5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens

• Walmart stock fell after forecasting Q1 sales growth of 3.5%-4.5% and adjusted EPS of $0.63-$0.65, both below analyst expectations, as investors assess new CEO Doug McMillon's direction
• OpenAI is negotiating a funding round that could reach $100 billion at an $850 billion valuation, driven by hundreds of billions in hardware and cloud computing commitments as its AI products remain years from profitability
• DoorDash shares surged despite weak Q4 results after gross order value of $29.7 billion and current quarter outlook exceeded analyst consensus, offsetting integration costs from combining its three global delivery platforms

Market Summary: Pre-Market Trading Update

Market Overview

Stock futures edged lower Thursday morning, with S&P 500 and Dow Jones futures down 0.3% and Nasdaq futures declining 0.4%, ending three consecutive days of gains. Investors are digesting earnings reports ahead of key economic data due Friday. The 10-year Treasury yield ticked up to 4.10%, while crude oil futures rose 1.5% to $66.20 per barrel—the highest level since last summer—amid concerns over potential U.S. military action in Iran. Gold held steady above $5,000 per ounce, and Bitcoin traded around $68,000.

Corporate Earnings and Developments

Walmart (WMT): Shares slipped after issuing disappointing guidance. The retailer projects Q1 sales growth of 3.5%-4.5% and adjusted EPS of $0.63-$0.65, both below analyst expectations. Investors are closely watching comments from the company's new CEO who assumed leadership this month.

OpenAI: Bloomberg reports the ChatGPT maker is raising up to $100 billion in new funding at an $850 billion valuation. Investors include Nvidia, Amazon, Microsoft, and SoftBank. The funding will arrive in tranches throughout the year to cover hundreds of billions in hardware and cloud computing commitments, as AI products remain years from profitability.

Carvana (CVNA): Stock declined after posting mixed Q4 results with earnings below expectations. The company forecasts "significant" growth in vehicle sales volume and adjusted EBITDA for the current year.

DoorDash (DASH): Shares surged despite weak Q4 revenue and profit, as gross order value of $29.7 billion exceeded analyst consensus. The company continues investing in platform integration across its three global delivery services.